Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton became the $8 million woman last night – after striking an eyebrow-raising book deal second only to the pope’s.

Publishing giant Simon & Schuster came in with the winning bid for the first lady’s memoirs of her years in the White House, which will be published in early 2003.

“This personal perspective on our recent history promises to be one of the most remarkable books of our time,” said Simon & Schuster trade-division president Carolyn Reidy.

The company has already published three of Clinton’s books – the best-selling “It Takes a Village,” “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy,” and “Invitation to the White House.”

Simon & Schuster’s $8 million bid for worldwide rights came close to the $8.5 million record set by Pope John Paul II’s autobiography – and left four other publishing houses out in the cold.

The astronomical figure also opened up an ethical can of worms for Clinton, who is leaving the White House with enormous legal bills to take a $141,000-a-year job in the Senate.

Watchdog groups have said the deal could create the appearance Clinton is cashing in on her government role or making a sweetheart deal with the publisher.

The fact that Simon & Schuster’s parent company, Viacom, has interests that come before Congress could be added ammunition for Clinton’s critics.

The communications giant, which also owns CBS, currently is fighting a federal regulation that bars one company from owning stations that reach more than 35 percent of U.S. households.

The House of Representatives bars its members from accepting book advances – a result of the flap over the deal former House Speaker Newt Gingrich got for his book.

But senators aren’t prohibited from pocketing fat advances as long as the arrangement is “usual and customary,” according to Senate regulations.

Sources say Clinton was asking for more than the usual one-third of the book advance up front, with some speculating she wanted to avoid having it come under government scrutiny when she’s sworn in next month.

However, it was unclear how her deal with Simon & Schuster was structured.

Clinton’s camp had no comment last night. But spokesman Howard Wolfson has said she will abide by all government regulations.

Despite the hefty price tag, there was no shortage of suitors for the memoirs, which are expected to include Clinton’s account of the Sexgate scandal.

The losing bidders included Disney’s Talk Miramax, Penguin Putnam, Farrar Straus & Giroux, and St. Martin’s Press, the same company that brought Monica Lewinsky’s story to the American marketplace.